“I hope you both have a very good explanation for this fiasco,” Director Piggot said bitterly after leaving us sitting in uncomfortable silence for ten minutes.

  “Yes ma'am,” Gallant replied immediately. He didn't even sound nervous.

  “Yes ma'am,” I added half a second later, when her eyes met mine.

  “Good. Amaranth?”

  “I...remembered Amy getting nominated for the Nine,” I admitted. It had already happened, thanks to my failure, so why not just put it out there. “And a couple other things. I told Gallant and we decided intervention was necessary.”

  “Gallant?”

  “That's the long and short,” he said with a nod. “Based on her prediction, I agreed to keep quiet to avoid us making things...worse.” I couldn't suppress a wince. “I should have called for reinforcements, but there was a good chance that caused things to go badly.”

  “And taking a Ward that you requested be suspended from duty?” He what? I turned my head and glared openly, but he was focused.

  “Again ma'am, based on the prediction I received—”

  “God dammit Gallant,” Piggot snapped, her face growing scarlet. “And what do you have to say for yourself, Amaranth?” I sighed.

  “I was...aware of a few ways it could go,” I replied as evenly as I could. I felt cold, like everything that had been pushing me on just...burned out. “Too many heroes and it changes. I was hoping with a limited number we could...do something.” Evidently not, with Amy's apparent Stranger fucking 12 rating. “As much a fucking disaster as this is, it's...sort of the best case?”

  Both turned and glared at me, but I held my chin up even as my lower lip trembled. I was right, objectively speaking. Of the three visits I'd made to the Dallons', this was the first one I'd survived. Of course I hadn't succeeded; but now I had the chance to maybe prevent the worst from occurring. Dean had even been there to help Victoria, at least a little. Not that I didn't want to reset and try again, make it perfect; there was some small idiotic part of me that whispered to get a gun. Doing that risked too much though. I just had to...make do.

  “Yeah,” I continued, nodding my head. “Sorry but...yeah, that's it. This is bad, but it's better than I remember.” So far.

  “Jesus,” Piggot muttered, shaking her head. “Gallant?”

  “She believes it,” he said, looking at me and frowning. “And I believe her, for better or worse.”

  “Thanks,” I said quietly, staring at the floor. I shut my eyes, took a deep breath, and raised my head. I looked from Gallant to Piggot, steeling my nerves. “Maybe I played this stupid, but we're not exactly in a position to dawdle. I had knowledge that needed to be acted on right away, and I did it. I don't know all of what's coming next, especially...now, but I can give you one thing if that helps?” She narrowed her eyes, but nodded. “You're gonna get an invite from Hookwolf for a meeting under Truce rules, about dealing with the Nine.” I swallowed, remembering the view of black water far below a shattered window. “It's legit.” There was a collective inhale.

  “Thank you, Amaranth,” Piggot said evenly. “Next time you...remember something, please go through the proper channels.”

  “Yes ma'am.”

  “Good, dismissed.”

  I rose first, Gallant following me out of the little meeting room we'd been dragged into after coming back. He hadn't said a word to me since Vicky...yeah, it wasn't that surprising. Not to say it didn't bother me, but I wasn't going to try and strike up a conversation. I'd done enough god damn damage tonight. Our walk through the headquarters was silent, save for the occasional bootsteps of a passing officer. When I made it to my quarters and headed in, I heard Gallant shuffle in behind me.

  “We need to talk,” he said for the umpteenth time lately.

  “You need to ask before barging into my god damn quarters,” I snapped, whirling on my heel. “Three fucking times dude.”

  “Cut the shit,” Gallant bit back. I blinked, surprised. “You've been holding out, and I don't know why but it needs to stop.”

  “I don't know what you're--”

  “Don't.” The whipcrack of his tone shut me up. “Don't fucking lie to me again.”

  “Well what do you want then?” I asked, throwing up my hands. “Because you don't fucking want to know what I do, I guaran-fucking-tee it.” When he just glowered silently I took a deep breath. “You want, what, the whole story?” He nodded. “Are you gonna get off my ass if I don't tell you?” Nothing. “Not here.”

  I turned and went to my closet, grabbing a few bits of clothes I could throw on over my costume and stuffing them in a bag. Gallant just stared at me from the entryway, like a fucking weirdo, so I ignored him. I had little doubt these rooms were wired, and less desire to wind up in Coil's clutches again.

  “Where are you going?” Gallant asked, blocking me from leaving when I was finally ready.

  “We're not having this conversation here,” I replied coldly. “That's the deal. You want to talk, I'm talking only to you.” What a world, where god damn Dean Stansfield was the one I could trust the most.

  “Fine,” he spat, turning and opening the door. I sighed.

  “Thank you,” I said, quietly but sincerely. “Come on, get a change and let's go.”

  We headed down to the Ward quarters without another word. The silence sure as hell wasn't friendly, but it didn't feel like Gallant was about to bite my head off either. It was sort of worse that way; he was pissed but was pushing it down for...some reason. Whatever the case was, I appreciated him humouring me and my idiot paranoia.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Soon enough we were heading through the little tunnel that would get us out of the building. Dean had put on another oversized sweatsuit and I just pulled mine over my costume. My gloves had gone into my pockets and I wore a proper pair of sneakers, not that it made a difference; I could walk barefoot over lava and presumably come out fine if I didn't flinch.

  “Here,” I said after walking for ten minutes. There was a small park, almost entirely blacked out with the lack of moonlight and streetlamps. I sat on a bench that was barely visible, and a moment later he sat beside me.

  “The whole story?” I winced at the sarcastic edge in his voice.

  “Okay, so.” I took a deep breath...maybe not everything but... “Describe a precog power for me.” He blinked.

  “Don't fucking play games, Lia,” Dean snapped.

  “I'm not!” I barked. “For fu--, Dean you're the one that said you'd never met a precog 'like me'. So, describe a precog's power, what it looks like to you.” He grimaced, checking the empty park around us.

  “I don't see their powers, per se,” he began slowly. “Just reactions to what they predict. Sure, they get...stressed, sometimes. Usually it's nothing beyond a bit of nerves.”

  “Because they're just sitting there thinking,” I finished. “They're not actually living in their predictions, it's just a simulation right?” Even Coil could end his second 'lives' with nothing more than a thought.

  “Riiight,” Dean drew it out, narrowing his eyes.

  “Well, they're lucky.” I couldn't keep the bitterness out of my voice.

  “Are you saying you--”

  “I don't know,” I interrupted. “I don't know if it's my power or a fucking curse but...” I shook my head. “Every time I've tried to stop it I failed.”

  “You mean Amy?” I nodded. “Wait, tried? As in you've tried doing this before?”

  “I've died, doing this before.” Even with almost zero light, I saw his eyes grow wide. “I'm not a precog, Dean, I'm in hell.”

  “What--” Dean swallowed, dry lips smacking. “What do you mean? You remember dying?”

  “No, I mean I died,” I hissed. “I can describe how it feels to have your ribs crushed by Leviathan if you want, or maybe being Mastered, walked into the fucking Crater Lake, and drowned.” I felt like throwing up as the words poured out. Tears fell along with them.

  “Before your patrol,” he said flatly. I nodded. “And what I saw in your palette.” I nodded again. “Oh god.” Understatement of the fucking century, and that was only half of it...and all he was getting.

  “And Dean, you can't tell fucking anyone.”

  “Why not?” He crossed his arms. “Lia you need help, I can see--”

  “No,” I barked, shutting him up. I lowered my voice before continuing. “I'm giving you the whole,” ish, “story here. When I say you can't tell anyone it's because I know what happens. I swear Dean, promise me this and nothing else, and I'll talk.” He took a deep breath, then nodded once. It'd have to be good enough.

  “I did it once,” I explained, licking my lips and glancing around the dark park. “I made a sworn fucking statement and everything Dean. I got kidnapped by Coil two days later.”

  “What?!” I winced at the shout and gestured for him to lower his fucking voice. He continued, quieter: “How? What happened?”

  “We were on patrol,” I said, my voice hitching as I shivered. “Got attacked. You...fuck, I hope you lived but I don't know. Got thrown in a cell and a visit from the fucking serpent himself.” And his bitch Thinker. “Died when Crawler attacked him.” I scratched the belly of my arm as I talked, a warm stickyness under my nails. “I can't tell anyone Dean I...fuck.”

  I turned, doubled over, and threw up. My arm hurt where I'd torn the skin itching, my head was swimming, drowning like I was being held underwater again and again and again. I was flipping head over heels, flying through the air, falling towards the still surface of a black lake. A grip on my shoulder made me flinch, but I relaxed fractionally when I remembered Dean. I spat, wiped my eyes and mouth, then faced him again.

  “Sorry,” I apologized hoarsely. “Sorry, I'm sorry, I...” I swallowed heavily, letting out a shuddering breath. “Sorry.” How many fuck ups did I need to apologize for? One for every life, bare minimum. I had a lot to--

  “Apology accepted,” Dean said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “I'm sorry Lia, I didn't--”

  “You didn't know and I didn't tell you.” I shrugged, turning my head and spitting again. “I'm a fuckup Dean, for all I know this is going to get me killed.”

  “Don't say that,” he snapped.

  “What, don't imply that I'm going to die and fucking lose everyone again?” I gritted my teeth. “Whatever, now you know. What's your next move, captain?”

  “I...” Dean trailed off and swallowed. Then, quietly: “You knew.” I sighed.

  “About Amy and...” He nodded. “Yeah. Don't bother asking how long, it's...complicated.”

  “Because you've done it so much,” Dean finished, getting a lying nod. “But...you don't care?”

  “Of course I fucking care,” I snapped. “You think I'm trying to stop it because I don't give a shit? Fuck yo--”

  “Lia!” His tone was sharper than a slap to the face. “You fucking know that isn't what I mean. I mean that you don't think Amy's a bad person.”

  “What? No shit.” I glared at him. “She made a mistake after being psychologically tortured by basically the evil version of her. She's a fucking idiot but she's not a monster like she thinks.”

  “She told you about that?” I scoffed.

  “Yeah, to guilt me into being a hero.” Dean opened his mouth and I held up a hand to stop him. “No, she didn't make me do it; I'm plenty capable of beating myself up thanks. And between my shitty mom and me I've got plenty of ammo.” Never mind how shitty Lia could be. “Anyway, I don't care about that either. Doesn't matter if her dad is Marquis or Heartbreaker or Jack fucking Slash, evil isn't AIDS.” Evil was a choice, I was unfortunately aware.

  “That's...” Dean let out a breath. “You really care.” My cheeks burned.

  “Shut up, Dean,” I spat.

  “It's okay,” he said with a sigh. “It's...normal.”

  “Don't make this weird.”

  “Alright.” He put up his hands. “Leaving it.” A minute passed in tense silence, then: “Thank you.”

  “For what, telling you too late?”

  “Telling me at all,” Dean said, shaking his head. “I can see why you call it hell.”

  “It's fine, you won't have to worry about it long.” He cocked his head and I rolled my eyes. “What, you think I'm going to survive the Nine?”

  “We'll keep you safe,” he replied without hesitating. “I...Lia you can't keep this quiet.”

  “I don't have a choice,” I countered. “I literally just told you what happens if I talk and...and I don't think that's the worst thing that could happen.” I'd had nightmares, ones I sure as shit wasn't sharing with the class.

  “Fuck.”

  “Yup.” I popped the 'p' and ran my fingers through my hair. “Thanks...for hearing me out.” I felt awful but...maybe a little better.

  “Thank you for trusting me,” Dean replied. After a moment, he twitched. “How did Coil know?”

  “Don't,” I said, shaking my head. “I promise, the best way is to just keep quiet and leave him. That problem will...sort itself out.”

  “Remembering something?” I just sighed. “Lia...come on, this isn't everything, is it?”

  “Villain infighting,” I said, an answer and not. “Just how things are, right?”

  “How much do you actually know?” I stiffened.

  “Too much.” I sighed and shook my head. “Not enough. Come on, we should get back.” I rose from the bench. “I supposed to be suspended, right?”

  “Just off the patrol roster,” he said, standing beside me. “Piggot was serious about the probation though.”

  “Figures,” I muttered. “Well, whatever. Come on and--”

  “Hey kids!” A shout from the road. “It's past curfew, I'm going to have to ask you to return to your homes.” We both turned and saw a National Guardsman. I sighed with relief.

  “Sorry soldier,” Dean said, offering a smile as we slowly stepped out of the park. “We're on our way.”

  “Oh don't run off.” A shiver ran up my spine and I whirled, seeing a streak of red against a backdrop of black hair. “Don't you know it's dangerous to be out on your own?”